Over the past couple of weeks, Finn and I have held a couple of conversations together online in celebration of the release of Smells Like Finn Spirit:
In the My Favorite Bit series hosted by Mary Robinette Kowal, Finn and I discuss, well, our favorite bit about book 3.
In the Big Idea series hosted by John Scalzi, Finn and I discuss our journey together over the course of the trilogy.
Enjoy! I know I did.
Finn, not so much.
TODAY IS THE BOOK BIRTHDAY FOR BOOK 3: SMELLS LIKE FINN SPIRIT!!!
Logan says RUN to your bookstore and buy the Finn Fancy series! First day sales are a big deal.
Tor (US) Version Available for Purchase:
University Bookstore (Seattle)
And for UK readers, it is available at (among other booksellers):
Smells Like Finn Spirit at Amazon UK
Smells Like Finn Spirit at Waterstones (UK)
Smells Like Finn Spirit – Tor Cover
Book Description:
Finn Gramaraye is back in the third installment of Randy Henderson’s Familia Arcana series, which began in Finn Fancy Necromancy, and Bigfootloose and Finn Fancy Free.
Finn’s re-adaptation to the human world is not going so well. He’s got a great girlfriend, and is figuring out how things like the internet work, but he is still carrying the disembodied personality of Alynon, Prince of the Silver Demesne, the fae who had occupied his body during his imprisonment. And he’s not getting along at all with his older brother. And oh, by the way, an enemy from his past is still trying to possess him in order to bring about Armageddon.
Or add it to your library on Goodreads.
Book Details:
Squee! (Er, manly squee!).
I grew up reading trilogies. I grew up watching trilogies. I lived in trilogies, walked the lands of trilogies until I knew them better than my own neighborhood, lived many lives through trilogies, fought evil and triumphed in trilogies. I dreamed of writing a trilogy. It is surreal to have actually done so. And wonderful. But really, it doesn’t feel real. Yet there it is. Three books. That I can hold in my hands. With my name on them. It’s like I’m living in some bizarro alternate universe. And it is pretty dang cool.
And I love the UK versions from Titan as well!
Book 3 comes out in the US on March 7th, and I can’t wait for people to read it!
Bigfootloose and Finn Fancy Free is now out in Trade Paperback! (links below)
Now is the perfect time to jump into the series if you have not already, with book 3 coming out in March to complete the trilogy arc.
In fact, Tor has re-posted the first three chapters to book 1 on the Fantastic Firsts online series if you want to check it out, and is also sponsoring a Goodreads Giveaway for book 1.
About Bigfootloose: In this sequel to Randy Henderson’s acclaimed debut novel, Finn Fancy Necromancy, Finn Gramaraye is settling back into the real world after his twenty-five-year-long imprisonment in the otherworld of the Fey. He’s fallen in love with a woman from his past, though he worries she may love a version of him that no longer exists. He’s proved his innocence of the original crime of Dark Necromancy, and he’s finding a place in the family business–operating a mortuary for the Arcane, managing the magical energies left behind when an Arcane being dies to prevent it from harming the mundane world.
But Finn wants more. Or different. Or something. He’s figured out how to use the Kinfinder device created by his half-mad father to find people’s True Love, and he’d like to convert that into an Arcane Dating Service. It’s a great idea. Everyone wants True Love! Unfortunately, trouble always seems to find Finn, and when he agrees to help his friend, the Bigfoot named Sal, they walk right into a Feyblood rebellion against the Arcane Ruling Council, a rebellion being fomented by unknown forces and fueled by the drug created by Finn’s own grandfather.
Links for Book 2: Bigfootloose and Finn Fancy Free:
Bigfootloose Trade PB on Amazon
Bigfootloose Trade PB at University Bookstore (Seattle)
Bigfootloose Trade PB at Powell’s (Portland)
Bigfootloose Trade PB at Mysterious Galaxy (CA)
Bigfootloose Trade PB at Tattered Cover (CO)
Bigfootloose Trade PB at Barnes & Noble
For UK readers, it remains available in paperback from Titan UK at:
Bigfootloose at Waterstones (UK)
Links for Book 3: Smells Like Finn Spirit:
Smells Like Finn Spirit (Tor US) on Amazon
Smells Like Finn Spirit (Tor US) at University Bookstore (Seattle)
Smells Like Finn Spirit (Tor US) at Powell’s (Portland)
Smells Like Finn Spirit (Tor US) at Mysterious Galaxy (CA)
Smells Like Finn Spirit (Tor US) at Tattered Cover (CO)
Smells Like Finn Spirit (Tor US) at Barnes & Noble
And for UK readers, it is available at (among other booksellers):
Smells Like Finn Spirit at Amazon UK
Smells Like Finn Spirit at Waterstones (UK)
Two big bits of news for book 3, Smells Like Finn Spirit:
First off, revised Finn 3 has been officially delivered to my editor! And I am so proud of it. Of course, I’m biased, but honestly there are just so many parts I can’t wait for people to read — funny moments, emotional moments, fantastical moments, moments that made me tear up or laugh on my own re-read — and I think that’s a pretty good sign. It has more of the humor of Finn Fancy Necromancy, and expands on the world building of Bigfootloose and Finn Fancy Free, with some deep character moments I think reflect all I’ve learned as a writer while working on these books, and it completes a nice three book arc (with seeds for future books of course should Tor buy more). Not trying to sound braggy, or like I think so much of my skill or anything, I just am proud of what I created, and feeling pretty happy about being a writer right now.
And second, COVER REVEAL! Thanks to the awesome Peter Lutjen!
Hey awesome peoples, I have a teensy favor to ask, and PRIZES to offer: if you have read Bigfootloose (or enough to have formed an opinion), pretty please leave a review.
Just one click on a link below and another click on some stars, then write a sentence or two about how it transformed your life and healed your chronic inability to speak Sasquatchese — or, you know, whatever you want. Bing bang BOOM! Taking a minute to leave a review is the best way you can help get Bigfootloose into the hands of folks who might enjoy it (or any book you read, for that matter).
Links to Review Sites:
Powell’s (who also offers their own contest for people who leave comments! Bonus!)
iTunes (select “Launch in Application” at top of page)
Bigfootloose and Finn Fancy Free comes out February 16th. This is a really critical and exciting time for the series! I hope you’ll join in the fun.
“So, this is your apartment? Nice. Where can I slip into something more comfortable?”
“Right over there, in the door past that copy of Finn Fancy Necromancy. Oh my gosh, have you read it? It’s REALLY exciting and funny an — uh, like you. I’ll get the wine.”
Why do I give this fine example of Finn Fancy love? Well, if you think it might be cool for the series to continue past book 3, continue reading.
This IS the book you’re looking for!
The Finn Fancy series is not in trouble, but it has reached its first critical test. Whether or not Tor wants to publish more Finn Fancy books will likely be based on sales of book 1 and pre-sales/ sales of book 2 (Bigfootloose) over the next couple of weeks. Just because that’s how the industry works.
What this is: Me asking you to take a few minutes to support Finn Fancy if you’ve read and enjoyed it, OR if dark and quirky contemporary fantasy is something that interests you and you MIGHT read it someday. Or if you are just feeling generous toward me and want to support my dream, I suppose.
So if you DO want to help guarantee more Finn Fancy books, here’s what you can do, in rough order from most impact to least. I’ve tried to make it easy:
I think this counts as my first fan art! Heather Seevers of NW Handspun Yarns knitted a Finn Fancy gnome hat! And she created a pattern so you can do the same! 🙂
Here’s the knitting pattern:
Finn Fancy Gnome Hatsy knitting pattern
I know that Heather’s also working with some folks on a new line of yarn specifically dyed in geek-friendly colors, like Police Box Blue, or based off of comic book colors, etcetera, so if you knit, keep a lookout for those!
There’s definitely some special knitting that goes on in Bigfootloose. So I would LOVE for others to knit gnome hats and send me pictures of them. 🙂 Or, if you want to get crazy, you could knit a Bigfoot I suppose. But they probably don’t look as nice on your head.
It’s award nomination time! AND THANK GAWD, I don’t need to ask you fine folks to nominate or vote for me or anything, because I already know all the awards I’m going to win this year. The people behind the people behind the scenes have told me I’m a shoe-in. So here’s the list. Don’t be jealous.
2016 Locus Award for “Best Use of Magical 80’s Tech versus PTA Blood Witches”: (magical Casio calculator watch) from Finn Fancy Necromancy, by Randy Henderson.
2016 Ricky for Best Line to Read in an Alan Rickman Voice*: “Bloody Mary, and make it as spicy as Shakira shaking her hips in a jalapeño field, please.” From Finn Fancy Necromancy, by Randy Henderson.
2016 Nebula for: Depiction of Gnomes Almost Awesome Enough to Make Us Forget the Travesty that was Gnomeo and Juliet: Finn Fancy Necromancy, by Randy Henderson.
The 2016 Ziggy Award for Four Completely Random Lines of Dialogue from a Novel Best Sung Together like a Ziggy Stardust Song:
“Feet too, Stormer,” I said. “You’re a loner, a rebel.”
…
“He drew me close and snuffled my head, surrounding me with his musky cedar scent.”
…
“I like that you look at me like I’m still that girl who didn’t know The Clash from The Cure.”
…
And Petey said,
“I took your Pacman watch.”
All lines from: Finn Fancy Necromancy by Randy Henderson
2016 Hugo for Best Novel Idea about Use of a Hugo: “Condom demonstration prop in sexual education class for cyborgs“, submitted by Randy Henderson, author of Finn Fancy Necromancy.**
Now I suppose if you have an empty slot after you realize that City of Stairs was 2014, and All the Birds in the Sky is 2016, you can actually add Finn Fancy Necromancy to your nomination ballot. Not that I have any expectation of winning but oh boy could I have some fun pretending like I might for that brief month or so.
Or if not me, you can add your deserving-writer-friend-whose-book-you-haven’t-read-yet-because-let’s-face-it-it-just-isn’t-your-thing-and-you-have-so-much-to-read-already-but-you’re-sure-they-are-a-great-writer-and-wonderful-human-being. That’s cool too. That’s what I’ll probably do with that last slot on my own ballots.
(On a completely unrelated note, I define “deserving-writer-friends…” as folks who have eligible works for award nomination and happen to take me to a delicious meal and/ or offer a really good neck and shoulder massage. Just saying. No reason.)
There. Done. Phew. Now I don’t have to do all that uncomfortable promotiony stuff about awards for the next several months.
PS: All joking and Finn Fancy aside, you really should nominate the stuff you read and liked in 2015. Those folks worked hard, are no doubt mired in Imposter Syndrome, and it really makes them feel good to have that work validated by nominations.
Ending Soonish Nomination details:
If you are a SFWA member, you can nominate for the Nebula Award until February 15th. Note the word-counts when nominating. And you can also nominate for the Andre Norton award for YA books as well.
If you’re a member of the 2015, 2016, or 2017 WorldCons, you can nominate for the Hugo awards. You’ll need your membership number (emailed to you by MidAmeriCon if you’re registered for 2016, or by Sasquan if you went 2015 but not going 2016). And you’ll need a PIN, emailed to you by MidAmeriCon (and if you haven’t received it by Feb 5th you’re supposed to email them at hugopin@midamericon2.org).
Have fun! And good luck to all the amazing authors who really do deserve an award. I’ll probably list a few suggestions when I find the time again.
Cheers!
*You know you tried it.
**EDIT NOTE: I realized upon re-reading my post that the Hugo bit may be seen as me devaluing or desecrating the Hugo, a sensitive topic after last year. Just wanted to say that’s not the case, I think the Hugos are awesome, and hope truly great works and good folks win the awards this year. Left the joke though. 🙂
Author, relapsed sarcasm addict, Clarion West graduate, milkshake connoisseur, winner of Writers of the Future, and member of Dungeon Scrawlers.
Randy’s humorous contemporary fantasy series from TOR (US) and Titan (UK) includes:
Bigfootloose and Finn Fancy Free,
now available for purchase, reading, and use in questionable acts.
In this sequel to Randy Henderson's acclaimed debut novel, Finn Fancy Necromancy, Randy Henderson spins another tale full of adventure, magic, and laughs, exploring in more depth the magical world and characters introduced in the first book.
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“… it’s an urban fantasy, one that takes place in and around present-day Seattle. But even though it deals with sinister magic and family tragedy, it counterbalances that darkness with something that’s become increasingly rare in fantasy fiction: laughs, laughs, and more laughs.” -- NPR
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